Level winding spinner reel



Sept. 30, 1958 J. F. MONTGOMERY LEVEL WINDING SPINNER REEL Filed May 7,1956 Jamar A fiowraaw ey E Y M W 'ATTUR/VEV United States LEVEL WINDINGSPINNER REEL John F. Montgomery, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application May 7, 1956, Serial No. 583,099

7 Claims. (Cl. 242--84.21)

This invention relates to a spinning type reel which may be employed forcasting, trolling, or even still fishing.

Primary objects of the invention are to provide a simple constructionwith the minimum number of parts rugged in nature, permitting arelatively low cost of production; a positively non-rotating line spool;means for level winding of the line about the spool; a spooling memberalways in fixed connection with the line winding crank; winding of theline either in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, and a line flow,variable braking action without actual pressure against the line itselfin a snubbing action.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those versed in the art in the following description in oneparticular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal, horizontal, diametrical sectionthrough a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse vertical section on the line 33 in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the finger of the level windingmechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of the finger.

In the one form of the invention as now best known to me, and asillustrated in the drawing, there is a body generally cylindrical innature, hollow and having an internal end wall 11 from which extends insubstantially the same plane an external annular flange 12.

A shaft 13 is revolubly mounted through the wall 11 axially of the body10, and carries a bevel gear 14 within the body 10. A second bevel gear15 is fixed to the end of a spindle 16 which extends radially throughthe outer curved wall of the body 10, supported by a bearing 17, to havethe gear 15 in constant mesh with the gear 14 Within the body 10. Thespindle 16 carries a double ended crank 13 on its outer end in a fixedmanner to have the outturned finger grips 19 and 20 secured atrespective ends thereof.

A shell 21 extends axially and outwardly from the wall 11, and receivesthe shaft 13 therethrough. Within the shell 21, there is a sleeve 22slidingly fitting within the shell, and slidingly receiving the shaft 13therethrough. The shaft 13 has a crossing right and left hand thread 23therearound within the shell 21.

The sleeve 22 carries a radially extending pin 24 to be rotatable aboutan axis extending radially of the sleeve. The pin 24 has an end threadfollower 25, Figs. 4 and 5, constantly engaged in the thread 23. Thiscombination of the threaded shaft 13, the surrounding sleeve 22, and thepin 24 is the well known assembly of a level winding apparatus commonlyemployed in fishing reels.

A line spool 26 is revolubly mounted about the outside of the shell 21,but is held positively against turning around the shell 21 by means of apin 27 carried by the sleeve 22, extending through a slot 28longitudinally of the shell 2,854,200 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 ice 21 andentering the spool 26, Fig. 1. The pin 27 therefore prevents turning ofthe sleeve 22 about the shaft 13 and also the turning of the spool 26about the shell 21 so that the sleeve 22 and the spool 26 are confinedto longitudinal travel in respect to the shell 21.

The shaft 13 extends axially beyond the shell 21 by a reduced diameterportion 29. The entire shaft 13 and the extension 29 are axially boredto receive slidingly Within the bore 3-8 a rod 31. This rod 31 has alength appearing within the housing body 10 and slidably extends onthrough into the reduced diameter portion 29. A collar 32 is slidinglycarried along the shaft extension 29, and carries a pin 33 which extendsdiametrically through the extension 2* through a slot 34, and this pin33 also extends diametrically through an end portion of the rod 31.Thus, the collar 32 may be reciprocated along the shaft extension 29 byaxial shifting of the rod 31 through the shaft. The structure in thisregard is best shown in Fig. 2.

The shaft extension 29 terminates by a threaded end portion 6%), theslot or bifurcation extending through this end portion. There is ashoulder 35 appearing between the end portion 6a; and the portion of theshaft extension on which the collar 32 slides.

A spooling member 36 of a bell shape centrally receives the end portion61) therethrough, and a nut 37 is employed to clamp the member 36against the shoulder 35 so that the member 36 will be rotatably carriedby turning of the shaft 13.

Within the member 36, there is an arm 38 extending inwardly thereof, andon this arm 38 there is a rocking lever 39 pivoted by one end thereto. Aspooling finger 41 is rockably connected to the other end of the rockinglever 39, and extends generally radially to have its outer end guidedthrough an opem'ng 41 through the major diameter portion of the member36. The finger is normally urged to the position shown in Fig. 1 wherebyits outer end does not extend beyond the outer surface of the member 36,and this inward urging of the pin 40 is accomplished in any suitablemanner, such as by a spring 42 interposed between the inner surface ofthe member 36 and an abutment 43 on the finger. The rocking lever is inthe path of the collar 32 whereby shifting of the collar 32 along theshaft extension 29 will rock the lever 39 outwardly and in turn push thefinger 4% to extend beyond the outer surface of the member 36 The rod 31extends, as above indicated, axially of the body 111, and carries ashort length of a worm 44 in a fixed position thereon spaced from a gear14. Surrounding the rod 31 between the gear 14 and the worm 44 is a coilspring 45 normally positioning the rod 31 as indicated in Fig. l. Theworm 44 may be made either a separate or an integral part of the rod 31,herein shown, Fig. 2, as being an integral part.

The rod 31 extends on beyond the worm 44 to carry a head 46 of anysuitable shape, herein shown as being frusto-conical. This head 45serves two purposes, namely as a member by which the rod 31 may bepushed axially of the shaft 13, and also as a brake member.

The body 10 carries an enclosing cap 47. Axially extending through thiscap 47 is a plunger 48 axially aligned with the rod 31. This plunger 48carries an external head 49 and between that head 4? and the cap 47 andsurrounding the plunger 48 is a coil spring 50 normally urging the head49 outwardly from the cap 47. This outward travel of the plunger 48 islimited by a stop 51 on the inside of the cap 47, fixed to the plunger43. This stop 51 is normally spaced from the head 46, but serves to bearthereagainst when the plunger head 49 is pushed inwardly toward the cap47. The stop member 51 is provided with 'a matching cup inner end '52 toengage frictionally around the head 46. The internal diameter of the cup52 maybe made to be such .thatflthe head 46 is engaged before itstrikes'the bottom of the cup, or theflat end of the'head and'theflatbottomof the-cup 52 may serve as the braking surface betweenthe-twomembers.

A dog '53 isrockably carried within the body 10, herein shown in the oneparticular form as being pivoted to the cap 47 toextendinwardlytherefrom andhave a'finger 54 engage between the threads of the worm'44, the dog 53 being yieldingly urged'theretowardby'means of a spring55. %Furthermore, this dog 53'has a portion, herein shown as theshoulder 56 lying in the path of but normally spaced fromthe rim of'thecup 52. Travel inwardly of the body bythe cup '52 will disengage-thefinger 54 from-the worm '44.

While not necessaryin the overall combination, yet it is advisable toprovide a closure cap 57 to protect the spooling member '36, the spool26, and'the level winding mechanism from the elements 'as well as fromsand and mud which are generally encountered in a fishing expedition.This cap 57 is provided with an eyelet 58, and is engaged about theperiphery-of the flange 12. The line 59 carried about the spool 26extends upwardly over and around the spooling member 36, and thencedownwardly and outwardly throughtheeyelet58 toextend along the pole (notshown). It is to be understood thatthe device described will be mountedon the pole in any suitable or conventional manner, the details of whichdo not enter into the invention per-se.

Operation Assuming that the spool '26 is'empty to begin with, the cap'57 is removed, andthecrank 18is turned to drive the shaft 13 until thespool 26 is brought to its position substantially againstthe wall 11.This travel of the spool 26 is set up as the shaft 13 turns by the pinor follower finger 24 feeding the sleeve 22 along the shell 21 by theengagement of the portion in the thread 23, in turn liding the pin 27along the slot 28 thus carrying the spool 26 -along theshell 21accordingly. 7

With the spool 26 in that position adjacent the Wall 11, the'line 59maybe wound around the spool, and then'carriedstherefrom upwardly andaround the spooling mem- --ber'36 and threaded .through the eyelet 58,and then the cap '57 is positioned over the flange 12.

Assuming that thefisherman wants to cast, the structure with all of the.elements positioned as indicated in Fig. 1 is :allowed to .remain asshown, and the cast is made whereupon the line 59 is free to travel from.the spool 26 around the periphery of the .spooling member 36 andoutthrough the eyelet 58. The free running of the line 59 may be stoppedby pushing on the button 49 to carry the cup 52 against the head 46 andthu push the rod 131 axially of the shaft13 and carry the collar 32against the rocking lever 39 to force the finger outwardly from theperiphery of the spooling member 36, and thus have the outer end of thefinger 40 to be in the path of the 'line 59 as it comes around thespooling member. Without holding the crank 18, this will serve as abraking action on the free running of the line 59, since the spoolingmember 36 withsuflicient outward pull on the line 59 will turn, and alsocause the gears 14 and 15 .to turn, this condition being indicated bythe turning of the crank 18. Of course the line 59 may be completelystopped from running out of the reel by holding the crank 18againstturning, and at the same-time holding the button 49 in its inwardposition of travel. Release of the button 49 permits thespring 50 todisengage the cup member 52 from the head 46, and allow the spring toreturn the rod 31 to its normal position, the dog 53 .beingreleased alsoso that its finger 54 will drop on the worm 44, and as the rod 31 comesback, the finger 54 will find its position between adjacent threads ofthe worm 44.

To rewind the line 59 on the spool 26, the button 49 is again depressed,'to'carry the-finger 40 outwardly "beyond the periphery of the @oolingmember 36, and the crank 18 is then turned by either one of the members19 or 20 so that the spooling member 36 is turning and at the same timethe line 59 is carried around the spooling member 36 in slidingengagement with the end of the finger 40 so that the line .59 isithuswrapped around the spool 26, at the same time thespool 26 .is beingreciprocated along'th'e shell '21 by the levelwindin'g mechanism. it isto be noted that when the butt0n'49 is sufficiently depressed, that isthe cup 52 is urged forciblyv against the head 46, enough pressure-canbeexerted toprevent rotation of the shaft 13,by reason of the pin 33extending across the shaft extension 29 thus restraining turning of theshaft 13. In this manner, a positive stoppage of the outward travel ofthe line 59 is set up so that in such a condition, the crank 18 itselfdoes not turn. The line may be paid out as conditions require --byreleasing somewhat the :pressure on the button 49, and then the lineagain stopped by additional pressure applied against the button 49.

Now there is an automatic line winding-in action without touching thebutton 49. This actionis setup through travel of the worm 44 along thedog finger 54. In this action, turning of the crank 18 in a line windingdirection, causes the shaft 13 to turn and also turns the rod 31 causingthe rod 31 to travel longitudinally of the shaft v1.3 and advancethe-collar 32 to extend the finger 40 into line engagement-by reason ofthe screwthread action between the Worm 44 and the finger 54. Thislongitudinal travel of the rod 31 ceases-when the finger-54 drops backof the worm 44, between itand. the head 46. Thefinger thus retains therod 31 in the line winding position until released by pushing on thebutton 49 lifting the dog 53 to allow the spring 45 to .shiftthe-rod31'back :and bringthe worm 44 into the path of the finger 54 which, uponrelease of the button 49 will allow the finger to drop. into the:wormthread and normally hold the rod 31 against longitudinal travel, untilthe .crank 18 is again turned or the button 49 pushed.

While I have herein shown and describedmy invention in the one best'formas .nowvknown to me, the description has been made in reference tosimplest possible. form in respect to bearings and the like, it beingunderstood-of course that suitable anti-friction bearings maybe employedparticularly for the shaft 13 where it extends through the wall 11,=andother changes maybe ,madeall without departing fromthe spirit of theinvention and I therefore do not (1%l18-t0b6 limited tothat precise formbeyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims. Iclaim:

1. A fishing reel comprising abody; a hollow cylindrical memberextending from the body; a shaft rotatably extending from the body andaxially through said..mem-

ber; .means carried by the body for rotating said shaft;

I crossing right and left hand threads around said shaft within saidmember; a sleeve about said shaft within said member; a pin carried .bythe sleeve extending into the paths of said threads;.a.spool carried-onsaid member; said member being slotted longitudinally along one sidethereof; a pininterconnecting said sleeve and said spool through saidslot setting up a reciprocating travelofsaid spool while holdingthespool against rotation about the member; said shaft'being fixed againstlongitudinal travel; a spooling member fixed to androtatable with saidshaft beyond said cylindrical member; a finger reciprocably carried bysaid spooling member to'have an end portion extendible beyond andretractible from the periphery of the spooling member; a rod slidablyextending longitudinally into said shaft, and by an end portionextending into said body; a collar about said s'lidable shaft; said rodadapted .to shift said collar along the shaft and shift said finger intoits extended position; and means adjacent the 5 end of said rod Withinsaid body adapted to shift said rod to shift said finger.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said rod is rotatively connectedwith said shaft, and braking means resisting shaft rotation interposedbetween said rod and said rod shifting means.

3. A fishing reel comprising a shaft; means for driving the shaft; aline spool mounted concentrically of the shaft; rectilinear spool drivemeans reciprocating the spool longitudinally of the shaft, said spoolbeing held against revolving about the shaft; a line spooling memberfixed on said shaft adjacent said spool; a line engaging finger carriedby said member extendible beyond and retractible from the periphery ofthe member; a rod slidably carried within and longitudinally of androtatably driven by said shaft; a slide member about said shaft; meansinterconnecting the slide member through said shaft With said rod; meansinterposed between said slide member and said finger setting up travelof the finger actuated by travel of said slide member; a brake memberfor resisting rotation of the rod and shaft at the end of and normallyremoved from said shaft; and means shifting said brake member intobraking action.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which there is a latch member normallyretaining said rod in a finger extended position; said latch means beingreleased by travel of said brake member toward said rod.

5. The structure of claim 3 in Which there is spring means urging saidrod into a finger retracted position; threaded latch means adapted toextend said finger; said latch means comprising a worm about said rodand a dog yieldingly urged against said worm causing said rod upon itsrotation to advance said finger to extended position, the Worm threadsterminating in respect to said dog when said finger is in said extendedposition; said dog being moved from the path of said Worm by saidshifting of said brake member.

6. A fishing reel comprising a body; a shaft revolubly carried by thebody; means driving said shaft; a spool carried by the bodylongitudinally shiftable thereof; means reciprocating said spool andmaintaining it against rotation relative to said body; a spooling memberfixed on said shaft axially of and adjacent to said spool; a rodreciprocably extending through said shaft; means revolublyinterconnecting the rod and the shaft; a finger reciprocable throughsaid spooling member to projected and retracted position and biased to aretracted position within the member; means actuated by travel of saidrod toward said member urging said finger outwardly of the member; meansbiasing said rod to a finger retracted position; an abutment on saidrod; a dog in the path of the abutment normally biased theretoward todrop behind the abutment when said rod is shifted to said fingerprojected position; a plunger axially aligned with said rod normallyremoved from and shiftable into braking contact with said rod andadapted to shift said rod to finger projected position; said dog beingalso in the path of said plunger to be moved out of the path of saidabutment by the shifting of said plunger.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said abutment has a threadedportion extending therearound and said dog entering said threadedportion upon a line rewind rota tion of said shaft, rotation of theshaft turning said rod to advance the rod by means of said dog-to-threadengagement to extend said finger from said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,515,896 Rakoczy July 18, 1950 2,538,153 Guthrie Jan. 16, 19512,583,465 Brown Jan. 22, 1952 2,670,908 Hill Mar. 2, 1954

